Tennessee: Vehicle controls and signals — Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection: Required Equipment Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “What must the vehicle you bring for the road test meet?” · “What is the rule on tinting material on the windshield of a motor vehicle?”
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual" (March 2025 printing), Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
All 16 questions in this practice test
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What must the vehicle you bring for the road test meet?
- Only the requirements printed in the vehicle’s owner’s manual and warranty
- All Tennessee motor vehicle registration (valid tags) and safety law requirements
- Only the examiner’s personal preferences
- Only the insurance company’s requirements
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Correct answer: All Tennessee motor vehicle registration (valid tags) and safety law requirements
The vehicle must meet the state registration (valid tags) and safety law requirements and have equipment in proper working order.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 22 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 22)
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How many white headlights must a motor vehicle have?
- Exactly two
- At least one but no more than three
- At least two but no more than four
- At least four but no more than six
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Correct answer: At least two but no more than four
Motor vehicles must have at least two headlights but no more than four white headlights.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 22 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 22)
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What lights must a passenger vehicle have at the rear?
- A rear license light, one red tail light, and one red brake light
- A rear license light, two red tail lights, and two red brake lights
- A rear license light, two white tail lights and two red brake lights
- One red tail light and one red brake light
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Correct answer: A rear license light, two red tail lights, and two red brake lights
Passenger vehicles must have a rear license light, two red tail lights, and two red brake lights.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 22 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 22)
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A vehicle with a windshield should have 2 wipers unless 1 wiper cleans to within what distance of the inside of the windshield?
- 3 inches
- 6 inches
- 12 inches
- 1 inch
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Correct answer: 1 inch
The manual says every vehicle with a windshield should have 2 wipers, unless 1 wiper cleans to within 1 inch.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 22 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 22)
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What must applicants be able to demonstrate about the windshield defroster and fan control?
- How to ‘defog’ the windshield
- How to melt snow from the roof
- How to clean the rear window with the washer
- How to turn the heater off completely
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Correct answer: How to ‘defog’ the windshield
Applicants need to demonstrate how to defog the windshield.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 22 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 22)
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What must the vehicle have regarding rearview mirrors?
- Two inside rearview mirrors and one outside mirror, all required
- At least one mirror, even if it interferes with the driver’s rear view
- At least one mirror that does not interfere with the driver’s rear view
- A mirror attached only to the windshield, with no side mirrors
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Correct answer: At least one mirror that does not interfere with the driver’s rear view
The vehicle must have at least one rearview mirror that does not interfere with the driver’s view to the rear.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 22 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 22)
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Applicants with certain vision or hearing impairments are also required to have what on the vehicle?
- A rear window defroster only
- Two outside rearview mirrors
- A second horn
- A backup camera
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Correct answer: Two outside rearview mirrors
For applicants with certain vision or hearing impairments, two outside rearview mirrors are also required.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 22 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 22)
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What is unlawful regarding the windshield of a motor vehicle?
- Driving with a windshield so cracked, or covered with steam or frost, that clear vision is prevented
- Driving with a windshield that has any small chip or crack in it, even if you can see
- Driving with a windshield that is wet from rain, even if the wipers are working
- Driving with a clean windshield during the day, even when the sun is bright
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Correct answer: Driving with a windshield so cracked, or covered with steam or frost, that clear vision is prevented
It is unlawful to drive with a windshield so cracked or covered with steam or frost that clear vision is prevented.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 23 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 23)
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In which directions is clear vision for the driver required?
- To the front only
- To the front and rear only
- To the front, rear and both sides
- To the front and the left side only
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Correct answer: To the front, rear and both sides
Clear vision is required to the front, rear and both sides.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 23 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 23)
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What is the rule on tinting material on the windshield of a motor vehicle?
- Tint is allowed on the lower half of the windshield
- No tinting material may be affixed to the windshield
- Tint is allowed if it transmits 35% of light
- Tint is allowed only on the top 5 inches
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Correct answer: No tinting material may be affixed to the windshield
No tinting material may be affixed to the windshield of any motor vehicle.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 23 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 23)
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On a passenger car, no window material may transmit less than what percentage of visible light?
- 15%
- 25%
- 50%
- 35%
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Correct answer: 35%
No material that transmits less than 35% of visible light may be attached to any window of a passenger car.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 23 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 23)
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For a multi-purpose vehicle, which windows are exempt from the tint standard?
- All windows behind the front seat
- The rear window only
- The windshield
- The windows immediately to the left and right of the driver
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Correct answer: All windows behind the front seat
On multi-purpose vehicles, all windows behind the front seat are exempt, while the windows next to the driver must comply as for passenger vehicles.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 23 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 23)
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How must the driver door and the passenger door open?
- From the inside only, never from the outside
- From both the inside and the outside
- From the outside only, never from the inside
- Only with a key or a remote
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Correct answer: From both the inside and the outside
Both doors must open from the inside and the outside.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 23 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 23)
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Passenger cars must have bumpers within what range from the ground?
- 6 to 12 inches
- 10 to 18 inches
- 20 to 28 inches
- 14 to 22 inches
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Correct answer: 14 to 22 inches
Passenger cars must have bumpers within a range of 14 to 22 inches from the ground.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 23 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 23)
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4x4 recreational vehicles must have bumpers within what range from the ground?
- 14 to 31 inches
- 10 to 18 inches
- 16 to 24 inches
- 20 to 36 inches
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Correct answer: 14 to 31 inches
4x4 recreational vehicles must have bumpers within a range of 14 to 31 inches from the ground.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 23 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 23)
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Why must every vehicle have a working speedometer?
- To count the miles driven for the registration
- To signal when the engine overheats
- To gauge vehicle speed
- To record the speed of other vehicles
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Correct answer: To gauge vehicle speed
A working speedometer is required in order to gauge vehicle speed.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 23 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 23)